Comic-Con Málaga 2026: a solid improvement

The first San Diego Comic-Con Málaga was a hit with audiences but an organisational disaster. In 2025, the event attracted 95,784 attendees, according to the official report, but that was hardly the headline: endless queues, overcrowding and visitors' complaints were.

I was there and can vouch for it. In fact, I left at midday because I'd had enough of the crushing crowds. There were too many people, too much anxiety about getting into everything and an organisation incapable of managing the event it had on its hands.

The 2026 edition therefore faced considerable pressure. The organisers had changed leadership, bringing in Fernando Piquer as managing director, and promised to correct the previous year's mistakes. 

Around 60,000 visitors were expected over the four days, and the available space had been considerably expanded to avoid capacity problems.

Ultimately, the Andalusian regional government reported almost 73,000 entries to the venue, although that figure isn't quite the same as the number of unique visitors.

Had they learned from their mistakes? Well, judging by my experience on the day I went—the big day, Saturday 3 October— the improvement was considerable..

Everything that happened at Comic-Con Málaga 2026

The second edition took place from 1 to 4 October at Málaga's Trade Fair and Congress Centre (FYCMA), with over 300 hours of programming devoted to films, TV series, comics, manga, video games and just about anything related to pop culture.

The guest lineup, while not on the level of the original San Diego event, struck me as perfectly respectable. Actors appearing included Karl Urban, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Christopher Lambert, Richard Dean Anderson and the stars of Starship Troopers, alongside numerous comic artists, illustrators and creators connected with film and video games.

There were artist meet-and-greets, presentations, talks, workshops, cosplay competitions, gaming areas, exhibitions and plenty of stands. If you're a fan of any of these worlds, there was certainly enough to keep you busy all day.

On Saturday,  one of the major draws was Disney's panel in Hall M, with Paul Bettany and news from Marvel, Pixar and Disney. There were also Spider-Man events, talks about European comics, role-playing activities and the cosplay competition.

I didn't attend those big panels, so I can't judge their content, but from what I've read, people weren't disappointed. My visit, however, had a rather different focus.

My personal experience: a Comic-Con to enjoy as a family

As last year, I went with my partner and our eighteen-month-old son. They were dressed as Leia and Anakin Skywalker respectively, while I had been entrusted with the important role of official photographer.

The idea was to spend the day wandering around, browsing the stands, enjoying the atmosphere and meeting other fans. We also took the opportunity to chat with some artists and friends who were at the event.

And I think that's a huge part of what makes a Comic-Con appealing.

Because, with our plans, what we enjoyed most was seeing so many people in costume, some with truly spectacular cosplays, and the way attendees themselves chatted and interacted with one another. People came over to ask us for photos, and we did the same with other characters who caught our eye.

My son, despite understanding almost none of it at eighteen months old,  had a wonderful time. He laughed at everything, enjoyed the attention and loved the atmosphere full of strange characters, although he obviously doesn't yet know what Star Wars is or why grown-ups spend hundreds of hours making a suit of armour.

For us it was a very pleasant experience, especially because this year you could enjoy the venue without constantly worrying about overcrowding..

We travelled by Cercanías commuter train and had no problems with queues in either direction. We had no trouble getting into the halls either, and once inside we could browse the stands fairly comfortably.

The difference from 2025 was enormous. Last year there was widespread nervousness, probably because it was the first edition, with lots of FOMO and everyone trying not to miss anything. This time the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

The venue, exhibitions and activities

The new layout of the spaces was another success. The different halls had enough capacity and you could reach the stands without too much hassle. There were obviously lots of people, but that's normal and part of the charm of an event like this.

Apart from the two main halls, one of the areas that caught my attention most was the Crystal Hall, the glass-walled space devoted to displays and collectors' items.

There were huge numbers of figures of well-known characters, some life-size and many others in different sizes, with superb attention to detail. If you knew the characters, you could spend ages marvelling at the details. Proper collectors' pieces.

And what can I say about the space devoted to illustrations by Frank Frazetta, which I loved. I've been a huge fan of his work ever since Fire and Ice —that film came out a long time ago—so finding his work there was a very pleasant surprise.

The gaming side was also well covered. In the Gaming Plaza there were different games to try, including driving simulators with their own setups and games such as the latest Dragon Ball..

I also liked the stand where, if you bought any miniature—they started at six euros— they provided the paints and showed you how to paint it step by step. A great way to get new people interested in the hobby.

Outside, in the food and drink area, there were tables and well-known soundtracks playing. If you managed to find shade and a seat—not difficult, but not instant either—you could enjoy a proper break, watch the cosplays and interact with other fans.

Overall, I think there was enough to keep you entertained all day. Though if we're talking strictly about activities you could take part in, I personally enjoyed RetroPixel, held in Málaga a few months earlier, more. Probably because it was less crowded and I had time to try everything.

They're different events, of course, but it's a good example of how Comic-Con offers countless things that will appeal more or less to different visitors.

The artists, the cosplays and the activities I missed

The artistic programme had an attractive lineup, with top comic and film creators from Spain and abroad. The catch was that seeing them came at a price. Quite a steep one, too, whether in time or money.

For instance, a friend of mine commissioned an illustration from Juanjo Guarnido, the artist behind Blacksad, and paid 250 euros. Of course, he has a fine arts degree, teaches drawing and particularly appreciates these artists' work. I wouldn't go that far, and I'm not the target audience for commissions like this.

What I thoroughly enjoyed, though, were the cosplays. Some costumes were incredibly elaborate, and it was great fun bumping into characters from completely different films, series, video games and comics in the corridors, including chest-bursting aliens and Chainsaw Man with chainsaws for a head. People were also very happy to pose for photos and chat.

What I didn't like so much was the booking system. 

I wanted to attend the Comic Arts Conference devoted to Frank Miller and his influence on the modern superhero, but I found the booking system quite awkward and full of unnecessary friction. I suppose they do it deliberately because of the flood of interest, but between accessing the booking tools and keeping an eye on available places, I lost interest.

I admit I didn't try particularly hard, either. But that's precisely my criticism: the process was so cumbersome that I ended up giving up on an activity I initially wanted to see.

And although the general queues had improved enormously, there were still exceptions. The most striking example was the Disney panel, for which some attendees reportedly waited six hours or more.

I didn't join that queue because spending so much of one day trying to get into a single activity strikes me as absurd. But again, I'm probably not the target audience. As I said before, you paid to see the artists with money… or your time.

Food, heat and a few things to improve

Another aspect that didn't quite convince me was the food offering..

There were different places to eat, but the choice was heavily focused on fast food. I fully understand that feeding thousands of people at an event this size is complicated, but I would have appreciated a little more variety.

The heat didn't help much either. This year Comic-Con had been moved from September to October, a decision I thought was sensible, but temperatures were still rather high—over 30 degrees—for spending several hours outdoors. That said, the air conditioning inside the halls was absolutely excellent..

Perhaps they should consider moving it fifteen days later in future editions. Málaga can still be pretty hot in October, and you really notice it when queueing or walking outside.

These are minor problems compared with what happened in 2025, but we're here to tell the whole story, the good and the not-so-good.

So, is a ticket to Comic-Con Málaga worth the money?

I think the answer depends enormously on who's going and what they intend to do.

The ticket doesn't strike me as necessarily expensive for what's on offer (€75–85). If you're a serious comics fan, have several artists you want to meet, plan to join activities or want to enjoy the panels and meet-ups, you can absolutely get your money's worth.

But our situation was quite different.

Between the two adult tickets, we spent around 150 euros, plus transport, food and especially the costumes, which weren't cheap either, bringing the total to almost double that. Our son was admitted free because of his age.

We mainly went to wander about, take photos and enjoy the atmosphere. We had a great time, but when you add up every expense and think about doing it every year, you begin to wonder whether it's really worth it.

Besides, our son is eighteen months old. He had a fantastic day but doesn't yet understand what he was looking at and won't remember any of it.

In a few years it'll be different. When he can recognise characters, take an interest in activities and participate more knowingly, I'm sure we'll all enjoy an event like this much more.

That's why I think the price of Comic-Con isn't so much a question of whether it's expensive or cheap, but how much you can get out of it..

The best and worst of Comic-Con Málaga 2026

The best thing, without a doubt, was the improvement in organisation. After last year's experience, being able to walk around the halls, approach the stands and move about without feeling crushed is already an enormous improvement.

I'd also highlight the atmosphere, the cosplays, the variety of exhibitors and some very interesting areas such as the Crystal Hall and Gaming Plaza. The guest lineup seemed suitable for an event of this scale.

On the negative side I'd put the awkward booking system, excessive waits for some panels, the limited food variety and the heat.

And while it isn't exactly the organisers' fault, I think you should carefully consider what you want to do before buying a ticket, because not everyone will make equal use of such a wide range of activities.

Conclusion: will I return to Comic-Con Málaga?

Comic-Con Málaga 2026 struck me as a considerable improvement over the first edition.

The organisers have done much of their homework. Many overcrowding problems have been solved, the venue allows you to enjoy activities far more calmly, and the atmosphere remains one of the event's main attractions.

Personally, we had a lovely Saturday as a family. Seeing my partner and son in costume, interacting with other visitors and bringing home those photos were probably the best parts of the day.

Will I return next year? Quite probably, although most likely for professional reasons.

As for repeating it as a family outing, I'm less sure. Not because we had a bad time—far from it—but because, as I said earlier, I think we'll enjoy the experience much more when our son is a bit older and can really take part in what's going on.

In any case, I'm pleased Comic-Con has corrected many of the mistakes of its debut. If it keeps improving access to activities, food options and a few comfort details, Málaga could have a very interesting pop-culture event for years to come.

Comic-Con Málaga 2026 fact sheet

Item	Information
Official name	San Diego Comic-Con Málaga 2026
Edition	Second
Dates	1–4 October 2026
Venue	Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga (FYCMA)
Managing director	Fernando Piquer
Programme	Over 300 hours of content
Reported attendance	Almost 73,000 entries to the venue
Reference ticket price	€84.80 per adult Saturday ticket, at the published Ticketmaster rate
My visit	Saturday 3 October